Croatia, the War, and the Future

Croatia: A Conversation with President Ivo Josipovic

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Brian Gallagher talks to Croatia’s President Ivo Josipovic in London

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By CBR Editor Brian Gallagher

The President of Croatia, Ivo Josipovic is in the UK for a three day visit. He  has met with the Queen, David Cameron (pictured above) and the Minister for Europe David Lidington as well as others.

On his first day he met with a small select group from the media, including myself. This was an opportunity to ask him questions, which obviously veered towards relations with the UK, the imminent accession to Europe and so on.

What follows is a summary of a number of his responses to various questions by those present, as well as brief analysis of some of his comments.

My own interests were in the relations between the UK and Croatia, and I asked him about the relationship between the UK and Croatia – which in the past has not been very smooth. He chose to answer this by emphasising the…

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6 responses to “Croatia: A Conversation with President Ivo Josipovic”

  1. Brian Gallagher Avatar
    Brian Gallagher

    Thanks for the repost!
    Sent from my BlackBerry smartphone from Virgin Media

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    1. inavukic Avatar
      inavukic

      Most welcome, Brian

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  2. Vladimir Avatar
    Vladimir

    Brian should read an article, published by Juris Protecta about a corruption in Croatia, namely Zagreb. At least George Urban from Encounter was equipped with the facts when he conducted interview with Milovan Djilas, a former Vice President of Yugoslavia, until 1954. Our democratically elected government failed to send him to The Hague, to face a music for the Bleiburg massacre, which the current President so skilfully avoid to talk about.

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  3. Michael Silovic Avatar
    Michael Silovic

    Our president needs to have his head checked after this comment (He did seem to feel that Croatian entrepreneurs “should be more active”, emphasising that it was not his job to sign deals for them.) It is every leaders responsibility to try to improve their country by supporting local businesses and creating business opportunities for its people in their country which helps to enriches it’s people. This type of mentality is what will make Croatia a welfare state of the EU. He obviously doesn’t understand what a CROATIA FIRST POLICY means!As For his visit to England lord knows I am not a friend of theirs and could never forgive them for the betrayals, wrongs they have done to our people and country not now or ever.

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    1. inavukic Avatar
      inavukic

      So true Michael Silovic, it is a country’s leadership responsibility to create conducive environment for business entrepreneurship and Josipovic, like others from Croatian leadership, seem to have a knack for placing blame where true blame has no place. Josipovic has been president for quite some time, I am certain he has heard of, read of, worldwide criticisms of appalling red tape and repellant investment business atmosphere in Croatia coming from government bodies and rules – so one has every right in calling him to account because he does not seem to have done much to improve this.

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      1. Pavao Avatar
        Pavao

        Sadly Ina, you are right, Josipovic has settled into his comfortable role and steers a course well away from anything of weight. I had hoped he would champion the cause of prosperity and good business but he seems preoccupied with trying not to rock the boat. We will soon lose the EFTA business we had with our neighbours yet the external investment is the lowest ever. There are 9 billion euros of EU funds available over the next ten years to put many things right, it will be a disaster if our stifling red tape means we fail to take advantage of it. Speak up Josipovic… or move aside.

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Hello,

I’m Ina

I was born in Croatia and live Australia. I have been described as a prominent figure known for my contribution to the Croatian and wider societies, particularly in the context of Croatia’s transition from communism to democracy, as well as for my many years of work as a clinical psychologist and Chief Executive Officer of government-funded services for people with disabilities, including mental health services, in Australia. In 1995, the President of the Republic of Croatia awarded me two Medals of Honor, the Homeland War Memorial Medal and the Order of the Croatian Trefoil for her special merits and her contribution to the founding of the Republic of Croatia.  I have been a successful blogger since 2011 and write extensively in the English-language on issues related to Croatian current affairs and democracy, as well as the challenges Croatia faced and still faces in its transition from communism. My goal is to raise awareness of these connections and issues worldwide.

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